Pandemics can come in waves-like tidal waves. They change societies. They disrupt life. They end lives. As far back as 3000 B.C.E. (the Bronze Age), plagues have stricken mankind. COVID-19 is just the latest example, but history shows that life continues. It shows that knowledge and social cooperation can save lives.
Viruses are neither alive nor dead and are the closest thing we have to zombies. Their only known function is to replicate themselves, which can have devastating consequences on their hosts. Most, but not all, bacteria are good for us. Some are truly horrific, including those that caused the bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic plagues. And viruses and bacteria are always morphing, evolving, and changing, making them hard to treat. Plagues, Pandemics, and Viruses: From the Plague of Athens to Covid 19
is an enlightening, and sometimes frightening, recounting of the destruction wrought by disease, but it also looks at what man has done and can do to overcome even the deadliest and bleakest of contagions.
More than two years in the making, author Heather E. Quinlan was deep into her research and writing when COVID hit. She quickly saw the similarities to plagues from the past. Plagues, Pandemics, and Viruses: From the Plague of Athens to Covid 19
not only covers the history, causes, medical treatments, human responses, and aftermath of the world's biggest pandemics, but it also draws parallels to the present. It chronicles the diseases that have inflicted man throughout the millennia, including ... The differences (and similarities) between COVID-19 and other coronavirusesThe bubonic plague/black plague, which wiped out 30% to 60% of Europe's populationThe devastation to the indigenous population during the European colonization of the AmericasThe 1918 Spanish Flu, which did not come from SpainHow disease "inspired" The Canterbury Tales, Wuthering Heights... and much, much more.
Along with investigating some of history's most notorious pandemics and diseases, Plagues, Pandemics, and Viruses
takes a look at human resilience and what we've learned from the past. It looks at how science, the medical community, and governments have conquered or mitigated most epidemics even before they can turn into pandemics. It reviews the science of pandemics, preventative measures, and medical interventions and, as well as other experts in the medical community. Richly illustrated, it also has a helpful bibliography and extensive index. This invaluable resource is designed to help you understand, and protect you from, plagues, pandemics, epidemics, viruses, and disease!
About the Author :
Heather E. Quinlan studied English literature at Ithaca College; she broke into the professional world as a children’s book editor for Sterling Publishing, launching its successful biography series for middle schoolers. She is now a freelance writer and filmmaker. Her documentary on the New York accent, If These Knishes Could Talk, was screened at the Library of Congress and is now available on Amazon Prime, while her writing has been featured in PBS’s MetroFocus, The Wall Street Journal, Medium, and the New York Daily News. She’s been featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, CBS This Morning, NPR’s All Things Considered, the BBC, and BBC Scotland, and she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for her work on NatGeo Kids’ “Weird but True!” series. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, writer Adam McGovern.
Review :
“2021 Outstanding Reference Source. The COVID pandemic, which has wreaked havoc through the world, is far from the first. These sweeping illnesses have wrecked societies for millenia. Plagues have left their mark on the world, loom from their hiding places, and show our resilience. This text shares that history, from thousands of years ago to today.” – American Library Association
“Plagues evolve, but people stay the same: New book reveals the dark history of pandemics. Sure, COVID-19 presented health care workers with an enormous challenge, but it wasn’t the first. History is filled with stories of horrific pandemics — the Black Death, smallpox, the Spanish flu. Each tale has its own heroes and idiots, victims and villains. And Heather E. Quinlan’s “Plagues, Pandemics and Viruses” has all the fascinating, frightening facts.” – New York Daily News
“History and science collide in this accessible, wide-ranging narrative of pandemics. … The conversational tone and clear organization make this a good choice for high-school student researchers and the general public.” – Booklist Online
“… presents non-technical explanations of more than plagues, pandemics, and viruses—She also covers societal effects of plagues and pandemics, and an overview of living with pathogens. … Delightful, enjoyable and informative … Will appeal to anyone … interested in basic, jargon-free information on pandemics and viruses.” – Library Journal
“… a comprehensive book of nonfiction that delves into all aspects of infectious disease epidemics: the science and the history, as well as, importantly, the social and cultural aspects of these diseases. This is a very relevant read for what the world is going through at this particular time in history. … the book is at its best as an overview of humanity’s ongoing struggle with plagues and pandemics … An important book for the times!” – New York Journal of Books
“… easy-to-read, accessible and humane historical overview of humanity’s struggle with pandemics resonates across the years and casts a wide net. … explanations are generally clear, concise and, given that [the author] aims at a popular audience, accurate – even when she discusses immunology, a notoriously complex area of biology. ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰” – Fortean Times
“... describes plagues, pandemics, viruses, and other diseases throughout history, from early medicine to COVID-19, along with their treatment and vaccines. …” – Protoview Book News
“Sometimes, you crave more information, so look for "Plagues, Pandemics and Viruses: From the Plague of Athens to Covid-19" by Heather E. Quinlan (Visible Ink Press), which is a wide look at frightening times throughout history” – Bookworm Sez
